SpaceX to Attempt Third Test Flight of Starship, the Mighty Rocket

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A SpaceX Starship rocket, which had two nail-biting and explosive test flights in 2023, is now back on the launchpad at the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

The deep-space rocket system is currently undergoing an hour-long integrated flight test. If this test is successful, the spacecraft will land in the Indian Ocean. This will allow the vehicle to progress to more challenging test flights and, ultimately, transport NASA astronauts to the moon's surface.

The target launch time was delayed multiple times on Thursday morning. The most recent delay was to ensure the safety of the test by removing stray boats from nearby keep-out zones.

SpaceX announced on Thursday that the current launch target is set for 8:25 a.m. CT (9:25 a.m. ET). The company also mentioned that they are proceeding with loading propellant onto the vehicle.

Earlier in the day, SpaceX stated that there is a 70% chance of favorable weather conditions for takeoff. The company specifically mentioned that they are monitoring the wind conditions closely.

The launch is scheduled to occur within a 110-minute window, ending at 8:50 a.m. CT (9:50 a.m. ET) on Thursday. SpaceX's email on Wednesday stated that the live stream of the event will start on the company's website about 30 minutes before the launch.

SpaceX views the Starship system as essential to its primary goal: transporting humans to Mars for the first time. Additionally, NASA has selected Starship as the landing vehicle for its astronauts on the Artemis III mission, set to launch as early as September 2026.

This undated handout photo shows SpaceX's Starship rocket at the company's launch base in Boca Chica, Texas.

This undated handout photo shows SpaceX's Starship rocket at the company's launch base in Boca Chica, Texas.

From SpaceX

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SpaceX has received approval for its third Starship test flight. If everything goes smoothly during Thursday's test flight, the Super Heavy booster, which is the first stage of the launch vehicle, will ignite and fly over the Gulf of Mexico.

After about three minutes of flying, the Super Heavy booster will use up most of its fuel and detach from the Starship spacecraft. The booster will then try to land autonomously in the ocean, while the Starship spacecraft will keep using its engines to go even faster.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has mentioned that the main focus of the initial test flights is to achieve orbital speeds. This means reaching velocities fast enough for the Starship spacecraft to enter a stable orbit around Earth.

Achieving this requires reaching speeds of over 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour).

However, Starship will not attempt to enter orbit during this flight. Instead, the spacecraft will perform a hard landing in the Indian Ocean, aiming to touch down more than 230 miles (370 kilometers) away from the nearest land mass. This information is based on documents released by the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees commercial rocket launches.

Starship tests and tech demos

Before entering a coasting phase, Starship will need to burn its engine for approximately six minutes. Once this is complete, the spacecraft will proceed to conduct important tests and technology demonstrations.

Starship will first try to open its payload door, which needs to open for the capsule to release satellites into space on upcoming missions.

Next, SpaceX will conduct a "propellant transfer demonstration" to transfer propellant from one tank to another on the Starship vehicle, as explained in a December email from NASA.

SpaceX engineers designed that demo to begin hashing out how Starship will be refueled on future missions while it’s in orbit.

NASA Artemis moon mission

Topping off the spacecraft’s fuel will be critical for Starship’s high-profile missions down the road.

The Orion pressure vessel for NASA’s Artemis III mission is lifted by crane for its move onto a work stand in the high bay of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 20, 2021. The pressure vessel will be secured onto the work stand where Lockheed Matin technicians will begin the work to prepare the spacecraft for its launch atop a Space Launch System rocket. Artemis III will send astronauts, including the first woman and first person of color, on a mission to the surface of the Moon by 2024.Date Created:2021-10-21

The Orion pressure vessel for NASA’s Artemis III mission was recently moved by crane onto a work stand in the high bay of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 20, 2021. The pressure vessel will be secured onto the work stand where Lockheed Martin technicians will start preparing the spacecraft for its launch atop a Space Launch System rocket.

Artemis III is a mission that aims to send astronauts, including the first woman and first person of color, to the surface of the Moon by 2024.

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When Starship embarks on a trip to the moon as part of NASA's Artemis program, it will need to wait in orbit near Earth while SpaceX sends out multiple vehicles solely dedicated to supplying fuel to the spacecraft. In order to reach the moon, SpaceX may need to conduct over twelve refueling trips.

On Wednesday, regulators gave SpaceX the green light to proceed with this upcoming test flight.

About 49 minutes into flight, the Starship vehicle will attempt to plunge back toward the ocean.

SpaceX’s explosive test-flight process

Musk expressed his confidence in the upcoming flight, stating that he believes it will be more successful than previous attempts in 2023. He mentioned that a successful flight could provide valuable data for Starship to progress to more challenging test flights.

During a recent discussion shared on social media, Musk shared his optimism about the upcoming mission. He mentioned that he does not want to jinx it, but he believes there is a good chance, around 80%, of reaching orbit this time. He also noted that the third flight features improvements that make it a much better rocket compared to the first two flights.

People gathered to watch SpaceX's new Starship spacecraft launch from the Boca Chica launchpad on an uncrewed test flight. The spacecraft was carried by the powerful Super Heavy rocket. The event was captured from South Padre Island, near Brownsville, Texas, on November 18, 2023.

People watch as SpaceX's next-generation Starship spacecraft atop its powerful Super Heavy rocket lifts off from the company's Boca Chica launchpad on an uncrewed test flight, as seen from South Padre Island, near Brownsville, Texas, U.S. November 18, 2023. REUTERS/Go Nakamura TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Go Nakamura/Reuters

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SpaceX's recent test flight made significant progress, reaching important milestones. However, there is more work to be done.

SpaceX officials have emphasized that the company is not anticipating perfect accuracy during these initial test flights.

"According to a statement on the company's website, each of these flight tests is simply a test. They are not done in a lab or on a test stand, but in a real flight environment to learn as much as possible," the company explained. "This quick development process has been key to all of SpaceX's major advancements."

Editor's P/S:

The upcoming test flight of SpaceX's Starship rocket is a testament to the company's relentless pursuit of space exploration. The rocket, designed to transport humans to Mars and